Pleating



PLEATING Filed May 14, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l l TTU/@MEV Patented Oct. 24, `1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLEATING Alexander MoD. Hess, New York, N. Y.

Application May 14, 1946, Serial No. 669,615

3 Claims.

This invention relates to pleating strips or tapes adapted for attachment to draperies, curtains and the like and more particularly to means associated therewith for securing the collected pleats together.

Ordinarily, it has been necessary, in order to obtain a professional touch to the draperies, and provide a display of the triple or French pinch pleat upon the front of the curtain or drapery, to sew the forward portions of the pleats together at a point below their upper ends and such that they would flare outwardly up from the location of the sewing thereby to give the much desired appearance. This sewing necessarily had to take place through the several thicknesses of the curtain material forming the pleats and at times when the curtain or draperies were to be cleaned there was required a tedious drawing of the threads and after the cleaning a second sewing operation. All this required time and was often costly in that professional decorators were required to do the job in order that the desired touch would be obtained.

It is an objectof the present invention to provide a pleating strip orgtape which will have a detachable devicefor the connecting of pleats in triplicate and in pinched fashion so as to give the desired French or triple pinched pleat effect the same as was had by the ordinary sewing of the pleats whereby at times when it is desired to effect a cleaning or ironing operation upon the drapery or curtain there is no necessityY that threads be pulled and the pleats be refashioned and sewed when again hanging the curtains.

It is another object of the invention toprovide a detaching device for securing the pleats together which is preferably an integral part of the pleating material thereby eliminating the necessity for providing further lmaterial than that which is already provided in the pleating strip itself. K

According to the present invention the pleating strip or tape made from buckram or similar stiffening material has a series of impressions or the like at spaced locations throughout the length of the strip so as to give the curtain a series of triple pleating formations. The pleating strip further has formations of a detachable nature and located adjacent one side of the pleats and adapted to extend through or over rear portion of the pleats to the opposite side thereof and retain the pleats in a collected condition such that the extension of the curtain has the desired pinched or flared appearance. Y In some forms of the invention the detachable strap is provided by striking the same out from the pleating material and providing on its free end either a locking shoulder or tacky material such that it can be fastened to the opposite side of the pleats and made of such length that when fastened the pleats will be held in pinched fashion. In the case that the locking shoulder on the free end of the attaching strap is used slots are provided in the strip through which the attaching strap will be extended upon making connection with the pleats. These holes may be separate from the rod holes or slots or the attaching strip may be connected through holes in the pleats which contain the rods.

With other forms of the invention a string fastener is used and passed through holes in the pleats upon making the attachment with the strip upon being extended from its button at one side of the pleats to the opposite side thereof and tied by the usual Winding operation to the button at that side.

In still another form of the invention the attaching strap may be applied by snap fasteners adapted to be connected with cooperating fastener elements located respectively at the same positions as the buttons at opposite sides of the pleats. In still another form of the invention an ordinary metal paper clip or the like can be eX- tended over the pinched rear portions of the pleats and into holes in the pleating strip. In each case the attaching device is in the form of a tie adapted to retain the rear portions of the pleats in pinched fashion when being extended either through slots especially provided for the purpose in them or when merely extending over the rear edges of the pinched or collected pleats.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. V1 is a fragmentary view looking upon the top edge of a drapery from the rear thereof and upon a pleating header strip constructed according to one form of the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear View of the same drapery or curtain shown in Fig. 1 assembled upon a rod showing the pleats being brought together at one portion or the figure and at the other portion of the ligure showing the assembled pleat with the catch or locking strap passed through them to retain them in pinched fashion; Fig. 3 is a rear view of a curtain looking upon a header strip of slightly different construction in that the rod is permitted to pass through a hole in the tape at veach pleat but having the same attaching strap as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a rear View of a curtain having a pleating strip of a type where the rod passes through the orifices in the tape at the rear ends of the pleats but where the attaching tab is of a construction such that its attaching surface has a tacky substance adapted to engage over and around the pleats to finally retain them; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view looking upon the rear of a pleating strip also of the type where the rod passes through the orifices in the tape at the rear folds of the pleats and showing a double headed connecting strap for retaining the rear folds of the pleats and which is passed through the same slots that retain the rod; Fig. 6 is a rear view showing also the rear of a curtain and a pleating strip where the rod passes through the orifices in the tape at the rear folds of the pleats but with a retaining tab which is struck out from the pleating strip at a location such that it will pass through the pleat slots with the rod; Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary rear views of a curtain and of a pleating strip of the type where the rod does not pass through all the orifices at the back of the pleats but having an ordinary paper clip securing the pinched pleats, and Fig. 8a is a plan view of the clip; Figs. 9 and l0 are respectively fragmentary rear views of a curtain using a pleating strip where the rod does not pass through orices at the rear ends of the pleats but having a string type of attaching device; Figs. 1l and 12 show respectively fragmentary rear views employing a pleating strip of the same type as in the previous form and with a string attaching means but with additional provision such that engagement of the string to the rear portions of the pleats is facilitated by passing the string through slits; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary rear view of a curtain having a pleating strip of the same type where the rod does not pass through orices at the rear ends of the folded pleats but having a snap fastener type of device for retaining the folded pleats; Fig. 14 is a plan view of the snap fastener which is used for retaining the folded pleats of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line |5|5 of Fig. 12 but is typical of the several other forms and showing the attachment of the pleating strip to the top of the curtain or drapery and the passage of the rod therethrough.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown the top of a curtain 2| with a pleating strip 22 of buckram or other stiff material secured thereto by three rows of stitching 23. This pleating strip may be sold separately from the curtain and sewed on the curtain by the housewife. The curtain or drapery may be of paper or like material and in which case the pleating strip could be attached to the curtain by gluing.

In this pleating strip there is provided several series of impressions 24 at different intervals along the length of the pleating strip and in such places where it is desired to have triple or French pinched pleats upon the drapery or curtain. These impressions are formed either by a surface cut, as by slitting or slotting, or by the material being pre-creased. These impressions 24 need only extend for their greater part throughout part of the heighth of the top portion and in the region of a rod 25 which extends through slots 21 and 28 located respectively at opposite sides of each series of impressions so the rod in passing through the slots permits the pleating of the strip and drapery in front of the rod. Beneath the slot 21 and at'one side of thev several pleats 26 which are formed by them along the impressions, there is struck from the pleating strip a latch or attaching device or strap 29 having locking shoulders 3| thereon and a pointed head 32 to facilitate its threading engagement with aligned slots 33 made for the purpose in the rear folds 34 of the tape 22. At the time of the insertion of the device 29 while the several pleats 26 are collected together, the locking strap 29 is of such length that upon being applied through the slots 33 and its shoulders 3| retained at the opposite sides of the collected pleats will hold them when the pleats are gathered and pinched at points removed from the top edge of the curtain, Fig. 2, and below the rod whereby to give the desired pinched pleat effect with the upper ends of the pleats flared laterally. The shoulders 3| lock with the slot edges to the right of the folded pleats. At times when it is desired to remove the pleats and flatten the top of the -curtain the locking shoulders 3| are bent so as to be aligned with the larger dimension of the slot which is at the center thereof and slipped out of the slots. All the while that the locking shoulders 3| were in their retaining position the shoulders were aligned with the smaller portions of the slot. To obtain this effect the slots 33 have been made of slightly oval shape.

Referring now to Fig. 3 it will be noted that instead of the two large slots at opposite ends of the series of impressions there is provided pairs of large slots 31 located on line with the pleating impressions so that the rod will pass through the tape 22 and that the pleats will be given support upon the rod thereby to prevent them from drooping. The connecting strap 29 is of the same formation as described in connection with the preceding form of the invention, and the securement of the strap is made through the slots 33.

Referring now to Fig. 4 a slightly different form of strap 38 is used. The strap 38 is located at a position where it will be one side of the collected pleats 26. It is struck out from the body of the pleating strip. No slots are needed for the extension of the strap through the pleats, it is simply wrapped over the rearward ends of the pleat. and stuck to the body of the strip at the opposite side of the pleats by a tacky substance.

Referring now to Fig. 5 a strap 39 is struck out from the body of the pleating strip, appropriate scoring or other provision having been made to facilitate its easy removal of the strap from the strip. VThe strap 38 has two locking heads 4| and 42 located respectively at its opposite ends thereof and at times when it is desired to secure the collected pleats is removed from the body of the strip and inserted through pairs of slots 31 along with the curtain rod 25. The strap 33 thereby serves as a tie acting within the rod slots when its shoulders 43 are engaged with the edges of the side slots.

In Fig. 6, the pleating strip has the usual pair of rod slots 31 located in transverse alignment with the pleat impressions 24. In connection with one of the slots 31 there is formed integral with the strip and adapted to extend across the one slot and into the body of the strip a locking strap 45 having a locking head 46 adapted to thread through the rod slots when severed from the strip and connect with the folded pleats 23 at the opposite side thereof whereby to retain the pleats in their folded condition. This locking strap will have a length such that the pleats will be retained tightly adjacent the rear folds thereof and in the region of the slots 31.

Referring now to Figs. '7, 8 and 8a there is shown a clip 41 made as an ordinary paper clip and such as to be U-shaped and have folded ends 48 adapted to enter holes 49 located at opposite sides of the folded pleats whereby the rear portion of the folded pleats will be retained in a pinched condition by the clip which will encircle them at the rear of the drapery.

It is to be understood, however, that in general there is room below the curtain rod 25 to insert the clip 41 so as to hold the pleats 26 together so that it is not absolutely necessary to have their holes 119. In fact if the housewife desires she may rely upon the impressions 24 to guide her in doing the pleating. By having ve impressions or any odd number between the rod slits 31 an odd number of pleats may be formed, and then these pleats may be retained by sewing as is usual.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10 there is shown a string 5| secured at one end to a button 52 on the pleating strip at one side of the pleats and adapted to be threaded through pairs of holes 53 in the rear portion of the pleat for connection with a button 54 at the opposite side of the pleats. When the string 5| is so secured to the button 54 the pleats 25 will be retained in appinched condition as indicated at 55, Fig. 10.

To improve upon the preceding form and as shown in Figs'. 11 and l2. there is disposed inthe rear folds of the tape, slits 58 running from the inner fold edge to the holes 53 whereby to facilitate the placing of the threads in the holes 53 and thereby to eliminate the necessity for` threading the strings through the holes by their ends thereof. A

Referring now to Figs. 13 andk 14, there is shown still another form of the invention wherein snap fastening elements 51 and 5B areused respectively upon the pleating strip andl upon a..

The strap El can be retained upon the pleating strioby simply leaving one of the snap elements 59 connected with one of the elements 51 on the pleating strip 22. Y

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a pleating strip with an' easy detachable device adapted to be connected about the collected or folded pleats of the curtain or strip to retain them in a pinched condition thereby to give tothe folded-pleatsl the :professional touch which is had when they are secured bv sewing and yet atl the same time have the fastening means detachable to permit the flattening of the curtain and nleating stripY at times of clean-ing and ironing the drapery or curtain.

While various changes maybe made in the detailed construction it shall-be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as Ydefined by the appended claims. i

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pleating strip adapted for attachment to a drapery, curtain or the like and having impressions therein suitable' for forming a plurality of pleats on the forward face of the curtain comprising a solitary and easy detachable device adapted to extend across the several pleat formations at the rear of the drapery for retaining them in pinched fashion whereby, upon. a Single release of the device with the portion of the pleating strip at one side of the collected pleats, the pleated portions of the drapery can be fiattened out for cleaning, ironing or other purposes wherein the easy detachable device comprises a string and button fixed to the pleating strip at one side of the collected pleats and a button at the opposite sides of the collected pleats adapted to receive the string and thereby retain the pleats in their folded and pinched condition.

2. A pleating strip adapted for attachment toa drapery, curtain or the like and having impressions therein suitable for forming a plurality of pleats on the forward face of the curtain comprising a solitary and easy detachable device adapted to extend across the several pleat formations at the rear of the drapery for retaining them inpinched fashion whereby, upon a single release of the device with the portion of the pleating strip at one side of the collected pleats, the

pleated portions of the drapery can be flattened out for cleaning, ironing or other purposes wherein the easy detachable device comprises a string and button fixed to the pleating strip at one side of the collected pleats and a button at the opposite sides of the collected pleats adapted to receive the stringA and thereby retain the pleats in their folded and pinched condition, said pleating strip having holes adapted to be aligned withl one another when the pleats have beenA folded through which the string is threaded upon 'making connection with the button at the op- 3 posite side of the folded pleats.

prising a solitary and easy detachable device adapted to extend across the several pleat formations at the rear of the drapery forl retaining them in pinched fashion whereby, upon a single release of `the device with the portion of the pleating strip at one side of the collected pleats,

the pleated portionsof the drapery can be flattened out for cleaning; ironing or other purposes wherein thev easy detachable device comprises a string and button xed to the :pleating strip at one side of the collected pleats and a button ,at the opposite sides of the collected pleats adapted to receive the string and thereby retain the pleats in their'folded and pinched condition, and said pleats having adjacent their rear impressions holes adapted to be aligned withone another when the pleats have been folded, and said rear folds havingy slits extending from the rear edge to said holes `through which the string may be transversely slid to be positioned within the string holes, and a button at the opposite side of the colected folds for securing the free end of the string.

ALEXANDER MCD. HESS.r

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 635,156 Sterling Oct. 17, 1899 1,958,436 Hess May 15, 1934 2,113,953 Steinberger Apr. 12, 1938 2,242,355 Harris May 20, 1941 Hess Nov. 17, 1942 

